Scottish Venison Working Group

At: SNH Stirling
Present: Stephen Gibbs, Richard Cooke, Alastair MacGugan, Leo Barclay, Richard Townsend, George Macdonald, Bruce Brymer, Alan Sneddon, Dick Playfair.

Previous meetings, actions, matters arising

FES decision re levy
Dick has discussed further with Willie. Understood that an announcement imminent from FES regarding future support of SVWG

Levy and other game dealers/processors
Yorkshire Game has levy up and running. Understood that Highland Game will start collecting in arrears from end January.

Letter to other key dealers/processors drafted. This can be sent as soon as Dick has contact names and addresses to whom it should go.

Education Resource
This to be 'hosted' on Scottish Venison site. Meeting with author, designer and web designer on Wednesday 26 January to take forward.

PGI Status
This being taken forward by SNH.

LLTNPA
Willie to advise who is lead on deer in Loch Lomond & Trossachs NPA. Possible meeting with Phil Ratcliffe?

Proposal for change of name
This discussed at some length. Generally, shift to 'Partnership' well liked. With all comments received from those not attending meeting taken into account it was decided that the 'Scottish Venison Partnership' was the best option.

Structure for the organisation also discussed. Alastair said that it would be hard for SNH (and other agencies) to formally join another legally incorporated body but that there were other less formalised options (such as ADMG had adopted). Following discussion as to whether the body had to be constituted as a partnership, and consequent liabilities, decided that a qualified legal or professional view was required.

Colin Liddell (who advised ADMG) suggested, or SAOS who may be able to give advice.

Dick to ask Johnny regarding contacts at SAOS and approach.

Game dealer representative body
From discussions about SVWG name and structure, the status of the lead game dealers/processors as part of SVWG was also raised. It was felt, particularly with levy, that consideration should be given to restarting a game dealers association – Richard Townsend, Christian plus others invited.

Suggested that SGA might be best equipped to provide secretariat for such an organisation – Leo, Richard Townsend to speak to Alex Hogg.

Also suggested that butchers involvement in this would be beneficial, as well as collection agents.

Bruce to discuss with Douglas.
SVWG Constitution
Draft discussed. Richard Cooke and others thought this reflected more what the Group did and how it operated rather than how it was structured and that this should also be included.

Dick to look at ADMG constitution and redraft.

Finance
Stephen was disappointed that more progress had not been made in bringing other game dealers on board with the levy, and that this must be done as a priority while deer management groups were still in favour. While the two main game dealers/ processors might account for 70 per cent of total volume, an additional 10 – 15 per cent through smaller dealers was also important.

Richard Townsend expressed concern that collection agents were not aware of the levy, and it was important to catch these up, plus other processors in similar situation, plus how the levy would apply to venison collected outside DMGs, for instance in South West Scotland.

Felt that it might be useful for SVWG to hold a presentation in SW Scotland to promote and explain the levy.

At AGM, Stephen to encourage estates to ask their game dealer whether they were deducting the 1p/kilo.

Bruce said that there needed to be economies of scale, and that butchers handling only a very small number of carcases would be contributing pennies, and it would probably not be worth the effort to try to collect.

Dick has the agreed letter ready to go to other game dealers as soon as he has contact details.

Forestry Commission funding – decision awaited.

SQWV – Stephen had discussed with SQWV and they would once again contribute £5000 for 2011 to allow the levy to bed in.

CNPA – Dick had raised with Will, and Will responded that although funds were tighter this year it would still be worth asking.

Ranching
Johnny had spoken to Tony Waterhouse re Tyndrum, and because of sheep going back on the hill a deer-related study would not be possible at this time.

Meeting fixed at Glen Saugh for 1 February with Donald Barrie. Johnny, Richard Cooke and Dick attending.

Alan said that he could pull together information from Glen Saugh and Rahoy and analyse.
Dick said that an allowance should be made to fund this work from the budget.

Alan ran over outline of 20 minute presentation that he would make on 24 February, injecting enthusiasm into the concept of ranching and where it might be most applicable to the attending audience, as well as comparisons with NZ.

Alan's presentation could possibly be introduced by Stephen who would set the scene.

Notes/leave behind needed of presentation for those attending.

Possible follow up visit for those interested to Alan's client in Perthshire.

Dick to forward Ashwood Study to Alan.

Dick to forward AGM Agenda to Alan and Stephen as soon as available.
Dates of next meetings
Monday 14 February, 1.00pm – Stephen, Richard Cooke, Alan, Alastair, Dick, to go over and develop presentation for ADMG AGM

Wednesday 30 March, 1.00pm, Stirling – full meeting of group.